Recurrent Takotsubo syndrome in a boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A case report

Takotsubo syndrome is a rare cause of reversible ventricular dysfunction that imitate an acute coronary syndrome. The entity is unusual among pediatric populations and a recurrent episode is extremely rare. We report a case of recurrent takotsubo syndrome in an eight-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). His chest pain episodes were aggravated by a strong emotional stimuli. During episodes of chest pain, electrocardiograms (ECG) showed ST elevation while echocardiograms showed left ventricle apical ballooning; however, a coronary angiography was normal. Serial ECG and echocardiogram revealed a spontaneous resolution of ST elevation and normalized apical contraction which were compatible with the diagnosis of takotsubo syndrome. Interestingly, serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated increasing subepicardial enhancement which was compatible with progression of cardiac involvement in DMD. <Learning objective: Takotsubo syndrome should be considered in pediatric patients with acute chest pain. A recurrent episode of takotsubo syndrome is rare but is possible in pediatric populations. Patients with inherited muscular dystrophy could also develop takotsubo cardiomyopathy. A growing awareness of this syndrome may help physicians to diagnose and provide an early appropriate management of children with chest pain.>.